Carbon-on-carbon beauty

In the past four decades, Corima has continually pushed the boundaries of what's achievable with carbon. The French composite manufacturer's know-how and constant innovations continue to set records and propel cyclists to victory in the most renowned races on the planet. We just witnessed this in full effect during this year's Giro, as Nibali claimed the overall title after battling it out through some of the most demanding weather conditions in the race's history. He and his teammates relied on their Corima wheels to propel them to victory, with the new Aero + MCC Tubular Wheels standing at the front and center.

To ensure quality, the Aero + MCC's hubs, spokes, and rims were all manufactured in-house by Corima in the same Southern France facility. Demonstrating the importance of this, the Aero + MCC is one of three sets of Corima wheels Corima that utilize its proprietary 12-carbon-spoke design. The key word in that sentence was 'proprietary,' as the precision of this wheel illustrates what's possible when carbon composites are developed and produced all under one roof. And not surprisingly, Corima is quite proud of this. According to Corima, the 'MCC' in the wheel's name derives from when the manufacturer first entered the cycling world, naming its early composite wheels 'My Corima Carbon.' For this current set of carbon wheels, Corima chose to apply its 47mm Aero rim profile. This shape features a sleeker aerodynamic profile than shallower-sectioned rims, yet it's still versatile enough to handle a variety of racing situations. In fact, unlike many 'aero' wheels, the Aero + profile spins up incredibly fast on the flats, while remaining stable in crosswinds.

For the construction of the Aero rim, Corima used pre-impregnated sheets of 3K (3000 filaments per square weave) carbon fiber for the inner section of the wheel, and a more visual 12K (12,000 filaments per square weave) carbon for the brake track. These sheets were then formed into its torsion box 'Concept 2D' shape, which results in a subtle 'U-shaped' profile with a moderate 22.6mm width. And, besides lending itself to Corima's signature refined gloss and apparent carbon weave finish, this layup design also provides heightened levels of aerodynamics, stiffness, and ride quality compared to more traditional 'V-shaped' wheel profiles. This shape was the result of extensive CAD designs and wind tunnel testing, where Corima's engineers optimized friction pressure on various surfaces of the wheel and tire system. And, according to Corima, more than 60 prototypes were designed and tested before the final design was chosen for real-world road testing. Throughout all of these revisions, Corima ultimately discovered that by applying this specific width-to-height ratio, aerodynamics were able to be improved without sacrificing any strength.

Perhaps the biggest contributor to the Aero + MCC wheels' incredible ride quality and feathery weight (around 1080g for the set), is the proprietary 12-spoke design. Corima built the wheels with just six evenly-spaced pre-impregnated carbon spokes per side. This design is not only incredibly stiff, but also much lighter than steel spokes. This is primarily due to the process of bonding the spokes to the rim, entirely eliminating the need for a spoke bed. The 12 conical TOP (Total Optimized Propulsion) spokes are both over-molded and bonded with structural epoxy adhesives, ensuring that they're able to handle even the most demanding of road surfaces. This is the minimum amount of spokes allowed by the UCI, thus making these wheels as aerodynamic and lightweight as possible. And to quell any doubts as to the durability provided through a full carbon-on-carbon construction, we saw Pro Team Astana riders running the MCCs at this year's Roubaix without any issues.

The Aero + MCC Wheels incorporate Corima's proprietary 3K carbon hub shells, which were built with both titanium and aluminum in order to create a stable, lightweight platform. The wheels feature low friction, high precision annular steel bearings throughout. On the rear wheel, three tempered steel transmission pawls were spaced at 120 degree intervals within a 30-tooth ratchet ring. This
ensures a fast and smooth engagement the moment that you apply pressure to the pedals.

The Corima Aero + MCC Tubular Road Wheel is supplied with brake pads, quick-release skewers, and a wheel bag. It is available in the color Black/white and in 700c size. Additionally, you're able to choose from either Shimano/SRAM or Campagnolo compatible freehub body. Please note that these wheels are sold individually, and that the Shimano/SRAM freehub is available in both a 10- and
11-speed freehub compatibility.

1. What is the rider weight limit for these...

Corima recommends the Aero + MCC wheels for riders up to 195 pounds, using tires from 23-25 mm wide. If you have any other questions about these wheels or would like to place an order, please contact me directly at 801-736-6396 ext 4076 or email me at mnelson@backcountry.com